BioVis 2011 Abstract

3D Reconstruction and Visualization of the Developing Drosophila Wing Imaginal Disc at Cellular Resolution Linge Bai, Thomas Widmann, Frank Juelicher, Christian Dahmann, David Breen

The goal of our research is to create a detailed 3D model of the individual cells in the epithelium of the wing imaginal disc of a larval Drosophila. 3D models of the wing disc have been created, and the apicolateral cell boundaries have been identified, allowing for the calculation and visualization of cell parameters, e.g. apical cross-sectional area. The color-shaded 3D cell mesh produced by our method demonstrates that cells at the center of the wing imaginal disc are apically more constricted. Together with functional experiments, this highlights the direct influence of morphogen signals on the shape of the cells.